Title: Report of the Expert Group Meeting on Policy Integration in Government in Pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract: Report of the Expert Group Meeting on Policy Integration in Government in Pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals held in New York on 28 and 29 January 2015.
Document Content Type: Substantive Conference/ Workshop Material
Document Sub Theme: Analytical Docu...more

DPADM is seeking a senior policy consultant for the Geneva-based Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Secretariat. The mandate of the IGF is to discuss the main public policy issues related to Internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet.
Please click here to see the Terms of Reference.

Interested candidates should send a completed P-11 form, CV and cover letter to vacancies@intgovforum.org by 13 April 2015. To download a P-11 form, please click here.

DPADM is seeking applicants with a minimum of five years of experience in the information technology field or related area. Experience in maintaining web pages is a requirement. Candidates with experience with Microsoft SQL, HTML, MS Server Management, CSS, Javascript, DNN, C# and asp.net is desirable.

DPADM is seeking two international consultants in connection with the 10th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Annual Meeting, to take place in João Pessoa, Brazil, 10-13 November 2015. The consultants will be responsible for documenting separate “Best Practices” sessions of the meeting as well as preparing substantive papers related to the sessions.

For more information, please see the Terms of Reference for Vacancies IGFP-1900 and IGFP-1899.

Interested candidates should send a completed P-11 form, resume and relevant selected bibliography to the IGF Secretariat at:vacancies@intgovforum.org by 23 March 2015. To download a P-11 form, please click here.

The Commonwealth e-Governance Forum 2015 will take place 24-25 March 2015 in Kigali, Rwanda on the theme of Smart Governance through Networked Government. The event will showcase innovative e-Governance services, examine new technologies and facilitate knowledge exchange. Key topics covered include open data for transparent governance, e-health, e-voting, m-governance and cloud services for governance. Speakers from DPADM/UNDESA will discuss the theme of E-Government for Sustainable Development: the Road Ahead.

DPADM is seeking an International Consultant in preparation for its upcoming Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on “Creating a Sustainable Digital Society for All”. The EGM will take place in Colombia in June 2015, in parallel with the 2015 UN Public Service Forum Day and Awards Ceremony.

DPADM is seeking a national consultant (Uruguay) for the project on Strengthening of Capacities of Developing Countries to Provide Access to Information for Sustainable Development through Open Government Data (OGD). The project objective is to demonstrate the potential and benefits of using OGD in advancing transparency, accountability and sustainable development in Uruguay.

You are cordinally invited to join the e-discussion on the 2015 ECOSOC Theme of “Managing the transition from the Millennium Development Goals to the sustainable development goals: What it will take”. The e-discussion will take place 17 February to 17 March 2015.

The purpose of the e-discussion is to engage policymakers, experts, practitioners and stakeholder groups in a global dialogue on specific aspects of the 2015 ECOSOC theme. It consists of four concurrently running thematic windows, each led by an expert moderator. The thematic windows address: i) policy choices and mindset change for an integrated agenda; ii) adaptation by institutions and structures; iii) partnerships for the implementation of the SDGs and the post-2015 agenda; and iv) monitoring and review.

The e-discussion is co-ordinated and organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The DESA/Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination is leading the e-discussion for DESA, with substantive support provided by the DESA/Division for Public Administration and Development Management.

DPADM is seeking an experienced Conference Coordinator in preparation of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 10th Annual Meeting. The meeting will be held in João Pessoa, Brazil, from 10-13 November 2015.

DPADM is seeking a senior policy consultant for the Geneva-based Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Secretariat. The mandate of the IGF is to discuss the main public policy issues related to Internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet.

Within the broad context of intergovernmental deliberations on the post-2015 development agenda, the Permanent Missions of Austria, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA/DPADM) are co-organizing a panel discussion on 21 January 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York, focusing on the independent oversight role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in implementing the post-2015 development agenda.

As part of the preparatory process for the upcoming 2016 United Nations E-Government Survey, the Division for Public Administration and Development Management is organizing multiple consultative meetings on "E-Government for Sustainable Development" in response to requests from Member States for a more inclusive, open and participatory approach in the design of the Survey. In collaboration with a number of regional hosts, the meetings aims to provide a valuable opportunity to discuss emerging trends, innovative practices and challenges of e-government, and to gather suggestions for enhancing the 2016 Survey.

On 29 December 2014 (Tuesday), the in-house seminar on e-government for disaster risk management was held in the United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG). This seminar was organized as the prior consultation meeting before the UNPOG’s joint training workshop with United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) in March 2015 in Songdo, Republic of Korea, with the title of “Sustainable Development and Disaster Risk Management Using E-Government”.

The UN Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) jointly organised a Training Session on E-Government for KAIST Global IT Technology Program (ITTP) fellows on 16 December 2014 in KAIST Munji Campus, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. The objective of this Session was to extend UNPOG’s outreach activities and raise awareness on the UN E-Government Survey, E-Government Development Database and METER 3.0.

Mr. Juwang Zhu has been appointed by the Secretary-General as Director of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs effective 1 December 2014. Mr. Zhu has over twenty-five years of experience working with the United Nations intergovernmental processes on sustainable development, including major UN conferences and summits, and with the Commission on Sustainable Development. Prior to his appointment as Director of DPADM, he served as a Chief in the Division for Sustainable Development where he led a team of analysts focusing on climate change, oceans, urbanization, transport and small island developing States. Mr. Zhu has served as Chief of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, providing advice on policy and management issues, including policy and substantive advice to the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. During the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), Mr. Zhu was Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of the Conference. In his previous assignments Mr. Zhu was also responsible for strengthening relations with business and civil society and for coordinating inter-agency affairs and partnerships for sustainable development.

The Division for Public Administration and Development Management is seeking an Individual Contractor to provide substantive and organizational support to to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Secretariat for the implementation of project objectives, including liasing with stakeholders, maintaining relevant files and databases and preparation of relevant documentation.

Interested candidates are invited to send a completed P-11 form, a CV, a relevant selected bibliography and a cover letter to the IGF Secretariat, at vacancies@intgovforum.org, by 17 December 2014.

Senior government officials from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will meet in Cairo, Egypt, on 18 and 19 December at a Capacity Development Workshop on Implementing the Citizen Engagement Self-Assessment Questionnaire (CESAQ). Findings from the self-assessment will be shared during the 14th Annual General Conference organized by the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO) – League of Arab States.

The UN Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management of UNDESA organized a Special Session on “ICT, E-Government and Women’s Empowerment”, in collaboration with the Social Development Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). It was held on 18 November 2014 during the “Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Beijing +20 Review” in Bangkok, Thailand. The Conference was organized by UNESCAP in cooperation with UN Women.

The Information Technology Assistant position is located in the United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN) Management Unit of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The incumbent reports to the Governance and Public Administration Officer of the UNPAN Management Unit, and is under the general guidance of the Director of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management.

Mr. Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of the e-Government Branch of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management of UNDESA, participated in the High-level Forum on South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Development. The theme of the Forum was ICT, Food Security and Sustainable Urbanization in the Post-2014 Agenda and it was held 17-18 November 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mr. Aquaro participated in a Panel together with the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Mr. Thomas Thabane and other high-ranking officials of African countries including Permanent Representatives to the UN. Mr. Aquaro presented the UN E-Government Survey 2014 and elaborated on ICT and e-government as tools supporting sustainable development, in general, and sustainable urbanization, in particular as well as emerging trends in ICT. The Forum was organized and supported by SS-SCSD, International Organization for South-South Cooperation (IOSSC), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHABITAT), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with support from the government of the Republic of South Africa.

DPADM is seeking national consultants for the project on Strengthening of Capacities of Developing Countries to Provide Access to Information for Sustainable Development through Open Government Data (OGD). The project objective is to demonstrate the potential and benefits of using OGD in advancing transparency, accountability and sustainable development in selected countries of Latin America and East Asia regions.

On 24 November, a delegation of six Vietnamese Officials headed by Mr. Mai The Duong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Communist Party Inspectorate and H.E. Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Permanent Representative of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to the UN, paid a visit to DPADM. A team of the Chiefs and staff members from DMB and PACB received the delegation that was accompanied by Mr. Ken Norman, an Australian anti-corruption expert.

As part of ongoing research into benchmarks, indices, and rankings in the public sector, two professors of international relations visited DPADM on 19 November 2014 to discuss the composition and impact of the indices compiled for the UN E-Government Survey. Beth Simmons of the Department of Government at Harvard University and Judith Kelley of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University are investigating the influence of comparative indicators on governments' policy decisions.

DPADM welcomed Mr. Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor at the Prime Minister's Office of Bangladesh, to a bilateral meeting on 20 November 2014 in order to explore further ways of cooperation between Bangladesh and DPADM. Within the concerted framework of the national Access to Information (a2i) Programme Bangladesh has successfully deployed efforts to encourage interaction between citizens and their national and regional governments on social media, Mr. Chowdhury reported.

The Division for Public Administration and Development Management of UNDESA is organizing on 19 November a Seminar on "Is there a Role for Net Neutrality in the Sustainable Development Agenda?". We invite you to participate remotely in this Seminar via Webex.

UNPAN Online Training Centre now introduces its new course: E-Government Uptake: The Demand Side of the Equation. This course, primarily created for government policymakers and practitioners, as well as students of e-government issues, will contribute to learning and knowledge enhancement.

Russian and Kazakh-language editions of DMB's e-participation tool, known as 'METEP' (Measurement and Evaluation Tool for Engagement and e-Participation), are now available to the general public.

The purpose of METEP, a self-assessment survey primarily aimed at government officials, is to raise awareness of policies and best practices on citizen engagement through Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). The new Russian and Kazakh versions were first used during the national capacity building workshop held by DMB in Astana, Kazakhstan, in early October 2014.

Division for Public Administration and Development Management is seeking a Consultant (editor/writer) to assist in systematic review of cutting edge publications on public administration and good governance and emerging trends in innovation, paradigm shifts, and renewed public expectations in governance and public administration.

ECOSOC and DPADM will organize a Special Event on Implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Enhancing access to and security of ICTs on Tuesday, 18 November 2014, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the ECOSOC Chamber, UNHQ during ECOSOC's Coordination and Management Meeting. The objective of the panel is to facilitate discussions among Member States in order to identify challenges and opportunities as well as sharing experiences on building trust and security in the digital world for sustainable development. To this end, the panel will engage distinguished experts, private sector representatives and development actors to present their perspectives and concrete suggestions.

The Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA) has become the first United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN) Partner from the Western Balkans after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DPADM on 31 October 2014. The signing of the MoU took place at the annual ReSPA Ministerial Governing Board Meeting in Skopje.

The Division for Public Administration and Development Management is seeking a Consultant to work with the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Secretariat to prepare summary reports and other related documents for the Open Consultations and Multistakeholder Advisory Group Meetings taking place in December 2014 and in April 2015 (provisional date).

The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Mr. Karim Massimov received a copy of the United Nations E-Government Survey 2014 from the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Mr. Wu Hongbo during the Global e-Government Forum 2014 on 7 October.

The United Nations E-Government Survey 2014: E-Government for the future we want is now available in Arabic. This publication presents a systematic assessment of the use and potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to transform the public sector by enhancing its efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability, as well as access to public services and citizen participation.

Click here to download the United Nations E-Government Survey 2014 in Arabic.

On the occasion of the 69th General Assembly, the Prime Minister of Italy, H.E. Matteo Renzi, received from the Officer in Charge of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM), Mr. Vincenzo Aquaro, the United Nations E-Government Survey 2014 and the full library of e-documents of United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) on Public Administration and Development Management. Prime Minister Renzi acknowledged with expressions of praise the fact that more than 60 years of support to the field of public administration were condensed in a memory drive, including the latest edition of the UN E-Government Survey 2014 under the theme "E-Government for the Future We Want." Within the last few weeks the UN E-Government Survey has been well received by the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, the President of Uruguay, the Secretary of State and the Minister of Higher Education and ICTs of Tunisia, the Secretary General for State Modernisation in France, among other high-level officials, as a tribute to the quality of one of UNDESA's flagship publications.

At the invitation of the Tunisian Government, Mr. Jonas Rabinovitch, Interregional Advisor from DPADM delivered a keynote address at the ICT 4 ALL Conference held in Tunisia from 22-25 September 2014, introducing the Panel on e-Government Success Stories from Republic of Korea, Estonia, Bahrain and Tunisia.

Leading experts from academia, government and civil society organizations will meet in Paris, France, on 20 and 21 October at a meeting on Formal/Informal Institutions for Citizen Engagement for implementing the Post 2015 Development Agenda. The Expert Group Meeting, organized by The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), through its Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia(ESCWA), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will examine ways in which governments can leverage opportunities for collaboration with non-State actors to better address sustainable development challenges.

The Office of President José Mujica of Uruguay hosted a special event on 5 September 2014 in recognition of the country’s e-government achievements in line with the results of the 2014 United Nations E-Government Survey. The President indicated Uruguay’s use of the Survey to access global e-government practices and to obtain concrete policy guidance. The President further noted that e-government is indeed irreversible and has become a key agent for State transformation.